How To Live As A Writer In A Fantasy World-Chapter 466: Nibble (3)

Volume 3 of Blood and Steel begins with Mussolini’s successful coup, followed by the Occupation of the Ruhr, and finally the Munich Putsch.

While the significance of Mussolini’s coup is understandable, the Occupation of the Ruhr might be confusing — but it’s actually simple.

It was an incident where France pressured Germany to pay war reparations while Germany was already suffering from insane inflation.

To be honest, “pressured” is putting it lightly — France just extorted Germany by force.

At one point, France even seemed to lose its mind and executed civilians in military courts for resisting.

This drove the German people’s anger to its peak, but what could Germany do?

All they could do was curse their incompetent government.

To make things worse, the inflation turned into hyperinflation, making life even harder for Germans.

[An incompetent government brought the country to ruin. Even if it weren’t Hitler, a revolution would have happened.]

[There’s the Treaty of Versailles — what could they have done?]

[They should have at least tried. Communism nearly toppled the regime — just sitting there was unacceptable.]

[I also can’t understand France’s actions. What happened that led them to execute innocent civilians through military trials?]

This incident is another example of the Treaty of Versailles haunting the Weimar Republic to the bitter end.

Under such circumstances, a coup was almost inevitable.

However, while the Munich Putsch had a clear “motivation,” it lacked a detailed “plan.”

Hitler came up with it impulsively after watching Mussolini’s coup.

Because of that, the coup was a total disaster.

They let high-ranking officials they had captured slip away, and on top of that, Hitler was arrested.

[If there’s a twist, this is it. We thought the revolution would succeed — but it didn’t.]

[If you’re going to start a coup, you need to work with the military. He didn’t even know that.]

[Why did he even start it? He had enough justification but didn’t make any use of it.]

When the putsch ended in failure, many readers were left confused.

The plan itself was sloppy, and the execution was even worse.

The truth is, Hitler was good at speeches, propaganda, and seizing power — but he was terrible at actual planning.

In hindsight, this foreshadows his actions in the German-Soviet War, especially at Stalingrad.

Anyway, after the Munich Putsch failed and everyone began to doubt him, Hitler’s true nature came to light.

[I only wanted to change this incompetent government on behalf of Germany and its people. If you had seen with your own eyes the kind of life we’re living, you never would have turned your backs on us. But you did.]

His words in court weren’t much different from the usual rhetoric of captured revolutionaries.

But Hitler turned the courtroom into his own stage for a speech and shot to stardom.

There’s little record of what exactly he said, so we don’t know much.

People just know something like that happened.

So he spent a long time thinking about how to win over the hearts of the people.

And it worked.

[There’s no patriot greater than this. Most people complain, but a true patriot shows it through action.]

[The man who took up arms against an incompetent government. The process was messy, but the outcome was powerful.]

[The one who wins the people’s hearts is the true victor.]

Based on the situation alone, Hitler seemed more than just a noble revolutionary.

People had no idea how full of madness he truly was.

Later, during his imprisonment, he began writing Mein Kampf, though he didn’t express his true nature directly.

Because if he had, that one book would’ve turned his image from revolutionary to deranged tyrant.

The Nazi Party, after taking power, would slowly — very slowly — begin to reveal the book’s contents.

But there was one quote that absolutely had to be included.

[The authority of the state never ends by itself. Any form of tyranny becomes inviolable and sacred. If the state’s power leads the people to ruin, then resistance is not only the right — but the duty — of every citizen.]

It’s shocking that “Hitler” said something like that, but it really is a genuine quote.

When he wrote it, he probably had no idea he himself would become a dictator.

Just based on that, you’d think he was the most noble of revolutionaries.

It shows that his “patriotism” toward Germany was, at least, sincere.

The problem is, he took it way too far.

But that one quote alone moved countless people’s hearts.

[Even the strongest nation is nothing but a castle of sand if it doesn’t have the people’s support.]

[An empire that falls to foreign invaders can rise again, but one that collapses from within cannot be revived.]

[Every leader in this world should keep these words in their heart.]

As I’ve repeatedly mentioned, thanks to the Jayros Revolution, monarchs can no longer commit tyranny at will.

Even if the authority of kings and nobles remains strong, they can’t arbitrarily violate basic human rights.

Of course, conflicts between nobles and commoners still exist everywhere.

They just can’t be openly oppressive anymore — but the problems unique to monarchy persist.

Moreover, because there’s hardly any explanation of democracy, this serves more as a “warning” to corrupt leaders.

‘Not that there are any tyrants left anyway.’

Take King Friedrich, who was once at odds with me — or rather, he’s Duke Friedrich now.

He once had the image of a wise king to the public.

Before we came into conflict, he had a good relationship with the commoners’ assembly.

After handing over the throne to Queen Maria, he’s stayed mostly inactive — but sometimes, no news is good news.

I’ve heard Queen Maria is now keeping the kingdom stable with a steady hand.

[The man watching the coup from afar is “Dr. Goebbels.” His presence on screen suggests he’s an important figure.]

[Will Dr. Goebbels stand beside Hitler? Or will he oppose him?]

[Great companions always gather around heroes.]

At the end of Volume 3, Goebbels — Hitler’s eventual right-hand man — makes his debut.

From Volume 4 onward, Hitler’s imprisonment ends, the Nazi Party is formed, and the root of all evil — the Great Depression — begins.

If the Great Depression is involved, of course we’ll have to show what’s going on with the world’s most powerful nation — the United States.

More importantly, this will also provide a general introduction to what “democracy” is.

That way, the rise of FDR — a man with a disability — will make more sense.

[Hitler’s physical defect is revealed. If that’s the case, then what about Zenon…………]

But seriously, what the hell.

This is where I had no choice but to shut my eyes after reading what was printed in the paper.

Just looking at it made my head spin.

I was already a little pissed off about the conspiracy theory that I’m Hitler — and now this kind of crap?

I’ve had plenty of relationships with women already.

Not to mention, my nights have been more than just “enjoyable” — they’ve been hot.

I seriously considered suing someone, but this world doesn’t have prosecutors yet.

Of course, I could catch the person who started this conspiracy and lock them up.

But then their life would be ruined.

‘Still, I can’t just leave it out, can I…’

Why include Hitler’s physical defect? Simple.

Because later on, in the German-Soviet war, the Soviet army will sing songs about it.

Actually, not just the Soviets — even the British army will.

I have no idea where the rumor started or how it got to the soldiers, but revealing it now adds consistency.

If you suddenly had people singing, “Hitler’s got one ball~”, readers would just be confused.

But now that the situation has gone this far, I’ve moved past anger — it’s almost funny.

‘Luckily, it was such a sensitive topic that everyone bashed the theory…’

People started treating me like Hitler, which led to all this.

But since the topic was too sensitive, everyone criticized it.

The first critic who raised the theory quickly apologized, but once words are spoken, you can’t take them back.

Now I’m afraid people will start whispering behind my back every time they see me.

It’s like I can’t even go outside anymore, for a completely different reason.

“That’s absolute bullshit! Who the hell came up with this crap?!”

And there was someone even angrier than me.

My lovely fiancée—Mari.

The moment she saw the news, she came straight to me.

Even though she wasn’t directly harmed by it, her face flushed with anger.

Apparently, even rumors like this could seriously damage one’s “honor.”

And for someone like me—a man of the arts—honor was everything. It was life itself.

“This is the kind of rumor that deserves the death penalty! Don’t you think so too, Adèle?”

“Well… maybe death is a bit much…”

Adelia replied awkwardly to Mari’s rage.

She’d brushed the rumor off as nothing more than gossip.

Still, the fact remained—I was a man of exceptional physical vitality.

Adelia knew it firsthand (so to speak), and so she had no reason to be particularly fazed.

Trying to calm Mari, who looked like a small, angry polar bear growling, I spoke up.

No matter how angry she was, there was no need to go overboard.

“Death might be a bit much. But we should definitely make a statement. Before the rumors spiral out of control.”

“Haa… Fine. But instead of you making a statement, I’ll do it. That’ll be more effective.”

Mari swept her bangs aside and spoke in a tone that tried to suppress her frustration—but she was clearly still fuming.

In fact, this gossip didn’t just affect me. It affected her, too.

They’d whisper about how her husband was lacking in bed and how she must be lonely every night.

Right now, my reputation was soaring too high for anyone to say that outright—but things would change once I stepped into politics.

Gossip behind my back would be inevitable.

In the worst case, I could end up isolated.

I couldn’t live forever as a pampered flower in a greenhouse.

So I needed to fix this—and fast.

I was just about to suggest how, when—

“The more I think about it, the angrier I get. I kind of want to just… show them.”

“Mari?”

“Should I just… expose how amazing you actually are? That’d be better than being branded impotent.”

“…Don’t I get a say in this?”

I asked, a little dumbfounded.

Mari stared at me for a moment, then—

“Nom!”

She suddenly grabbed my face and bit my cheek.

Her unique way of expressing affection.

I was used to it by now, so I didn’t say anything.

The bite just had a bit more force than usual, so I flinched slightly.

For a while, she nibbled and kissed my cheek in her own way, then finally pulled back.

“… …”

Her face was serious—aside from the occasional glance at a certain area below my waist.

She gripped my shoulders tightly and let out a heavy sigh.

What on earth was going through her mind?

But it didn’t take long for her to reach a decision.

She shifted her gaze—not to me, but to Adelia, who was standing nearby.

“Adèle.”

“Yeah?”

“Would it be okay if I… used you a little? This concerns Isaac’s personal honor.”

“…Do as you like.”

With Adelia’s permission, Mari looked straight at me.

Her blue eyes sparkled with intense desire.

I had no idea what that desire entailed.

Then, she slowly raised her hands from my shoulders and cupped my face.

My cheeks squished in her palms.

We stared at each other for a long moment, then she muttered:

“Damn it… if only you were ugly. Why do you have to be this stupidly handsome…”

“Mawy?”

My pronunciation was garbled from my squished face.

Mari toyed with my cheeks like a kid playing with a plushie.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if you were just a little ugly?

No—wait. If you were, then our kids might be ugly too. Ugh.

The problem is you’re just too perfect. Trying to have a man like this all to myself was greedy to begin with.”

“… …”

“Isaac.”

I didn’t respond verbally—there was no point.

I just nodded.

Seeing that, Mari spoke seriously:

“Nicole told me this once. ‘Will you live as a scoundrel, or as garbage?’ And you chose the scoundrel, right?”

“Mhm. Thass right.”

“Then that’s fine. We’ll start revealing things, little by little. Anyway, there are already rumors about you and Queen Arwen.

And you’re still working on Cecily.”

Mari continued massaging my cheeks, clearly unwilling to take her hands off me.

Not that I minded.

Her touch wasn’t unpleasant—in fact, the opposite.

It felt oddly comforting, like she was babying me.

Relaxing into the sensation, I closed my eyes.

And then—

“…You’re seriously trying to seduce me right now, aren’t you?”

“Huh? What are you talking abou—”

Smooch!

She shut me up with a fierce kiss.

Afterward, she explained that it would be far more effective for someone else to “testify” on my behalf, rather than me stating it myself.

I knew she was right.

In cases like this, a third party’s word had more weight.

So Mari—no, the Ducal House of Requilis—took matters into their own hands to clear my name.

[Mari Hausen Requilis, fiancée of Zenon:

“Being with him is like handling a wild beast with an enormous weapon…”

In the end, I had to bring in other women to survive the night. And even that often wasn’t enough…”]

[Zenon’s Nights Like a True Hero:

If his fiancée had to recruit others to keep up, could any other woman handle him…?]

[Rumors are spreading that Alvenheim’s greatest gift may be the queen herself.

But is it true…?]

Thanks to this, I was able to escape the misunderstanding—though perhaps “escape” isn’t the right word.

Of course…

[Just how many women have fallen for Zenon? Could it even include Helium’s princess?]

[Wherever a hero goes, women are sure to follow.]

[Zenon’s trial in the Kingdom of Teres: some say it’s due to the illegitimate child of Friedrich’s diplomatic envoy…]

Becoming a scoundrel had become unavoidable.

If this were Earth, I’d probably be getting torn apart by the media.

But this was a medieval world—only just stepping into the modern age.

“Mari. A letter came from your mother.”

“Oh yeah? What’d she say?”

“She says nobles keep asking to marry their daughters off to me.”

“Tell her to rip them all to shreds.”

There was no such thing as restraint.

All this did was make me seem like a man with zero defense.

“Are you really okay with this? It might hurt your own position…”

“I’m going to be the one who marries you first and gets pregnant. Got a problem with that?”

“…Nope.”

Honestly… I think I’ve found myself a really amazing woman.